There’s no denying that baking your own bread, cooking all your meals from scratch and growing your own food is incredibly rewarding and wholesome, but is it really necessary, and more importantly, does it really make sense? Many of us get caught up in the fairy tale ideal of self sufficiency, but oftentimes it means we’re spending more money than we would if we bought our resources from the shops, and we’re spending more time on something that’s just making us feel exhausted. It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff, and decide exactly what homemade staples will actually enrich your life, rather than make it a chore…

Firstly, growing fruit and vegetables. There’s no way this could ever be a bad thing, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s much cheaper. Secondly, it gets you outside, in nature and doing some exercise. Thirdly, it tastes so much better than shop bought food, and fourthly, it encourages you to eat healthily. The main disadvantages are that it can take up your time, and you need to be able to tend to a vegetable patch regularly. Not having a garden can be a problem, but you can still grow tomatoes upside down in hanging baskets, and lettuce in trays on the windowsill.

Next, we’ll move onto kitchen appliances. There are so many different ones available on the market today that it’s getting a little silly, but we’ll concentrate on the most popular ones. The ice cream maker is a great piece of kit, especially if your supermarket of choice sells cheap cream when it’s almost reached its sell-by-date. A bread maker is also useful, but you’ll need to make sure you invest in a reliable brand, or you’ll be eating loaves with holes through the middle. Then there are appliances that seem a little useless, but can be great when placed in the right hands. Waffle makers often just sit at the back of a cupboard for decades, but if you have kids and run out of dessert ideas then they’re very quick and easy to make. Also, food dehydrators tend to get abandoned, but they’re great for people who do a lot of camping and hiking. The food retains its goodness and taste, but it is three times lighter and can be stored for up to six months in a sealed bag or tupperware box.

Lastly, homemade clothing and soft furnishings. For most people, knitting, sewing, crocheting and embroidering are all hobbies that have been learnt over the years. One craft project can take a good week or two to complete in your spare time, so is it worth it? If you’ve got the skills under your belt already then we say yes, but if you still need to learn then be prepared for some slow progress. You’ll need to find out what you’re best at, and then invest in the materials you need. Knitting and crochet tend to be cheap, especially when you buy from eBay. Sewing, on the other hand, is generally expensive if you haven’t acquired a sewing machine from your Mum or Grandma. Be prepared to shell out up to £150 or £200 for a really decent machine.

Whether homemade foods and items are worth the trouble over shop bought ones really depends upon your individual situation. Consider whether you have the space for your projects, a bit of money to invest in the equipment to get you started and the spare time to work at them regularly. Hopefully then you can pick and choose your own life of self-sufficiency, balanced with shop-bought convenience, saving yourself both time and money at once.

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